Kenneth W. Russell Fellowship

Terms of the Kenneth W. Russell Fellowship 2019–2020

The Kenneth W. Russell Fellowship awards one award of $1,800 to support a graduate student participating in an archaeological project or pursuing independent research in Jordan. For the 2019–2020 cycle, the Russell fellowship is open only to enrolled graduate students of non-Jordanian nationality.

Deadline for applications is February 1, 2019 Applicants will be notified by April 15, 2019

Year 1: Education assistance for a Jordanian student enrolled in an archaeology or cultural heritage degree program in any country. $1,800 award.

Year 2: Student travel (any nationality except Jordanian) for field work or research in Jordan. One award of $1,800 to support a graduate student participating in an ACOR approved archaeological research project.

Annually: The Russel Fellowship also supports Bedul education assistance for the children of Umm Sayhoun community in the Petra region. Since 2008, an annual prize of JD 200 and a certificate commending their achievement can be awarded to the top male and top female tawjihi finalists from Umm Sayhoun.

Background of the Russell Fellowship

Photo of Ken Russell courtesy of Jane Taylor, photographer.

Kenneth W. Russell (1950 – 1992) began his formal association with ACOR in 1990 as an archaeologist for the ACOR projects at the Amman Temple of Hercules and at Aqaba (Islamic Ayla). He was educated at the University of Utah (Ph.D. 1986).

Russell was a brilliant and animated lecturer and a skilled anthropologist who contributed to archaeological and ethno-archaeological theory. He studied the ethnoarchaeology of the Bidul Bedouin, Petra’s modern day inhabitants. He was particularly interested in the history and archaeology of Petra, having received his early training in archaeological excavation in Petra in the 1970’s.

Russell died unexpectedly, on May 10, 1992 after a short illness contracted before commencing the excavation of the Petra Church. He was buried at Petra on a promontory overlooking the valley and his excavation, in a place chosen by and given to Ken by the Bidul.

The Kenneth Wayne Russell Memorial Trust was founded by family and friends to carry on his legacy in Jordan.